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By now, you’ve probably been beaten over the head with the fact that John Reese has released a couple of new videos to help promote the upcoming release of the 2nd edition of his wildly successful Traffic Secrets course.

The videos are content-driven and include some very practical suggestions for boosting your own website traffic.

Of course, you probably already know this because you’ve been emailed a hundred times, been bombarded on Twitter, Facebook and wherever else affiliates go crazy spreading the word.

(Don’t get me wrong, I AM using my affiliate link in this post - like John needs ALL the money from his sales - but I wanted to wait to tell you about this until I had a chance to go through everything)

So What’s in the Videos? Are They Worth Watching?

To watch the first video, it takes nothing but a few minutes and you aren’t forced to opt into anything, so if you’re concerned about that…you can go right to the video page and get started.

But I know you’re busy and may be wondering what it’s all about before you take the time out of your day.

A Quick Answer: Definitely some solid information there that I’d be willing to bet MOST people don’t use, even if in the back of their minds they think they already know some of it.

A Longer Answer:

The first video (that you can watch at this page) is called “Results Detection” and includes very practical techniques to eliminate much of the trial and error process that comes with building traffic and an online business in general.

There are at least 8-10 specific ideas (I was trying to count, but pay attention at the same time…so may have missed a couple in the count) he provides to help you find out what is ALREADY working for traffic generation, instead of spending time and money to come to same conclusions.

Once you’ve finished watching that video, you have the opportunity to sign up for the Traffic Secrets notification list and view the next video entitled, “Own More of the Internet“.

This is a very powerful concept that I’ve been teaching my own students in a variety of my programs. It’s all about going wide with your efforts and reaching more prospects. I enjoyed John’s discussion of the concept because he has incorporated a good suggestions regarding the latest technology, content formats and publicity tools that are available today.

He also includes a very important advice that he rightly says so many online business owners don’t follow - and it’s all about planning ahead and seeing the big picture in all your content creation and traffic strategies. It may seem simplistic, but until you think about it and look at how you do your own planning, you might be surprised that you’re not really doing it either.

Other Thoughts

If you’ve been around the online business world for a few years, you may know that I credit the first Traffic Secrets course and John’s teachings with a huge boost in my success. In fact, you can still see my original bonus offer and success story when John relaunched the first version of the course.

What’s interesting is that 90% or likely more of what John taught in that first course is still applicable today. There are just a few things about Google Adwords, other pay-per-clicks and search engines that needed some updating. John could have done some minor editing and continued to sell the course, but from discussions with him and seeing these videos, it’s easy to see he’s taking a whole fresh approach and really harnessing the technology and tools available to us today. I for one, am looking forward to a whole lot more.

Take a look at the videos and let me know what you think.

Here’s a new sales page critique that I put together for one of my Copywriting Sweetie students. I thought it might be helpful for making tweaks to your own sales copy and Danielle, the site owner has kindly agreed to share.

This is a decently written letter, but it could use a boost in a couple areas, including:

Proof & Credibility: If you want people to trust your expertise, you need convey this directly to your prospects. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are, if your prospect doesn’t believe it, that makes it really tough to make the sale.

Concrete & Compelling Detail: The more benefit-oriented detail that you can give your readers, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision. This particular critique is for a membership site that has content that changes on a monthly basis, so the challenge of providing REAL DETAIL for your prospects becomes a challenge. I’ve included a few important suggestions for overcoming this obstacle.

Watch the Video or Read the Written Report

The critique comes in two formats, so you can digest it in a way that works best for you.

Watch the video online.

Download the written guide (PDF).

Need to Put Together Your Own Sales Copy, But Need Help?

If you need extra copywriting help, grab your access to the Copywriting Sweetie course + software. If you’d like more hands-on one-on-one help, sign up to be notified of the next IM Copy Makeover.

Blogs (used for business) are supposed to be relationship builders, so they say. Of course, purist bloggers will say they shouldn’t be used for business, but if you read this blog, you’ve gotten past all that and we can discuss blogging for business candidly, right?

But many people who give advice on blogging for business say that you shouldn’t sell on your blog. The blog is just for building those relationships. Well, I love to make new friends and cement relationships with existing ones as much as the next guy/gal…but ummm…I also blog to build my business.

If You Don’t Tell Them What You Have to Offer, How Will They Know?

See, I don’t really understand how one could think that just writing interesting blog posts without ever making any offer to your readers is going to do you much good. Sure, you can do some promos/ads in the side bar of your blog, but realistically…most of your readers ignore the side of your blog. They are interested in what you have to SAY. And if you don’t SAY what you have to offer…how will they know?

Making offers in the context of your posts makes the most sense. Tell them while they are listening and engaged in what you have to say. Of course, I’m not saying that every blog post needs to be a full-on pitch (but go ahead, make some pitch posts sprinkled in with the great content), but include some kinds of business-building call-to-action in a large percentage of your entries.

If you have an ecourse or newsletter that focuses on the topic at hand, mention it.

If you have a product that helps people with a problem you’re writing about, tell your readers about it.

If you know another company that sells a great product solution, link to it with an affiliate link.

Your blog readers are not mind readers, plus they read your blog because they like you and/or your company. They WANT to know what you’re up to, what you have to offer, etc. NEVER assume that your readers already know what products you have and that they’ll take the time to investigate what would suit them best. You need to guide them and tell them.

This is something Lynette Chandler and I really try to drive home in our Internet Marketing Blogging Bootcamp, which happens to be opening for registration next Monday.

(Side Note: See, I’m including a link because I want you to go sign up for the notification list and consider joining us for the bootcamp when registration opens. I do not want to leave it to chance that you already know this, because you probably don’t as you’re busy and have more important things to keep track of. )

If you look through this blog, you’ll see it is FULL of useful information, a bit of silliness (that people seem to like), a lot of subtle plugs and a decent amount of straight promotions. I have a decent readership, but don’t have the huge numbers many A-List bloggers do…but I will tell you that this blog is one of the biggest keys to my ongoing profit.

Some Outside Perspective on How This Blog Sells

Interestingly enough, a number of people have caught on to my money-making scheme with this blog…he he he.

Andy Beard says about myself and Lynn Terry “they probably have more paying customers than many A-list bloggers have subscribers.” -> Read the full quote in context here.

John Reese wrote about an audit his team did for BlogRush members and he mentioned that a lot of make-money blogs were disapproved because “most of the blogs in that category were heavy with ads and promotional material compared with the ratio of tips, techniques, and true unique ‘helpful’ content.” And then he proceeded to list this blog as one of the blogs that actually got it right. -> Read the full quote in context here.

Brent Hodgson wrote about “over-the-shoulder-selling” which “is a type of inclusive sales pitch which just engages people - not as sales prospects, but as people,” and listed me as one of the people who “use this tactic (either subconsciously, or very deliberately).” -> Read the full quote in context here.

Yes, It Applies to YOU!

And please don’t tell me this is only suitable for this type of “Internet marketing” blog because it’s simply not true. If you have products to sell and you have people who enjoy your related content - you can incorporate selling into your blog.

So tell me, do you incorporate selling in your blog? Subtle or direct…it doesn’t make you a snake oil or used car salesman. It makes you someone who can relate to and make great recommendations to your readers.

A couple of weeks ago, we gave away a custom mini site from Silicon Post. Our lucky winner April Jones from Nebraska. Her and Robert worked together and the mini-site is now complete.

Here’s what April had to say:

“Hey Alice,

I just wanted to thank you again for hosting the giveaway of a mini-website from Silicon Post. I was so excited when I found out I won!

After months of debating whether or not I wanted to start my own Virtual Assistant business, I finally decided to go for it on June 1st of this year. The first thing I did was try to set up my website. I did an okay job using some free templates I found online, but it just wasn’t enough. And I knew it would be a while before I could teach myself how to design a website or pay someone else to do it. So your giveaway came just in time.

My “grand opening” is July 1st and my brand new website is up and running thanks to you and Robert Mesa of Silicon Post

Robert has been such a pleasure to work with. He made sure I got the professional look I wanted for my website. As a VA, my website will be the first impression that a majority of my potential clients get of me and my business. So the design and content is very important to me.

Not only did Robert make sure everything I needed was on there, he even made some suggestions and added features that had never occurred to me that will really help my website (and my business) stand out. He was completely patient, even when I messed some things up when trying to edit, and he was both professional and friendly.

I hope you’ll do another Silicon Post mini-website giveaway so that someone else out there will have the same opportunity that I did to work with Robert and Silicon Post.

Thanks again!
April
Advantage Virtual Assistant

And on April’s last comment - if Robert’s up to it, we’ll certainly host another one soon.

Even though just about anyone can build a website, there are aspects of online business and web development that can be quite complicated. We can outsource some of the things we don’t want to learn, but there are always those little nagging things we wish we could learn to do…but we avoid because they *seem* complicated.

And I say *seem* because, from my experience, whenever I’ve convinced myself something was too hard to do and then I finally went ahead and did, I wondered why I was ever worried. For example, STARTING and customizing a Blogger blog (still haven’t tried customizing a WordPress blog, cuz I’m very SCARED!), customizing a phpbb forum, creating an HTML email, putting audio on my website and the list goes on and on.

One of the other things I’ve avoided is video, but through my use of screen-capture software, Instant Video Generator and recently the purchase of an ultra-easy Flip Video recorder - I’ve been taking baby steps and am slowly coming around. Soon, I’ll look back and wonder what I was so concerned about.

So what about you - What do you avoid because it seems complicated?

Since my kids are totally going nuts over here in preparation for Canada Day tomorrow, I thought I’d post my well wishes to my Canadian readers now…in case you’re just as excited too.

We usually do a big barbecue with friends and family, but with the pending arrival in August, we’ll be taking it easy…but having a great time nonetheless.

Whatever you do, I hope you have a great one!

EDITED JUNE 27:

Platinum Membership is now open. Only 5 spots left…click here to grab one.

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A little while back, I interviewed one of our Outsourcing Sweetie Platinum Members about how her outsourcing experience was going. We talked about:

Her outsourcing experience prior to working with us and things she has learned along the way (these lessons are important for all of us).

Better communication and working efficiently with contractors.

How to decide what to outsource each month and keeping business rolling, even when you’re busy.

Download the Audio & Full Transcripts

You can grab a copy of the 27 minute audio recording and the full transcripts here. Learn from someone else’s experience…and even her mistakes…to make the most out of your own outsourcing experience.

Click here for the mp3 recording.

Click here for the PDF transcript.

Enjoy, apply and join us for Platinum!

As you know by now, the Hot Summer Seminar Series is in full swing at Kelly’s place. Each week, there’s a new webinar/teleseminar on an Internet marketing-related topic…and the series is FREE (but you can purchase recordings & transcripts if you want).

Here was a quick Twittouncement from Kelly today:

To which I had to reply:

Lynn has over 10 years online marketing experience and not only that - she’s a great to teacher who LOVES to share. That’s why the topic for Lynn’s call is perfect - it’s all about Social Marketing and how you can schmooze your way into the hearts of your prospects and customers.

BUT IMPORTANT: Tonight’s call has been postponed until further notice…but it’s still coming. Just sign up now and Kelly will keep you up-to-date.